Adjusting screw for pull-chain sockets and the like



July 2%,,1926, v

' C. DE REAMER' ADJUSTING SCREW FOR PULL CHAIN SOCKETS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec 2, 1921 v Inventor: Frank C.DeReameu,' 1 y W His Afiorney.

Patented July 20, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1,593,392 PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK C. DE REAFIER, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECIQIC COMBANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ADJUSTING; scnnw son PULL-CHAIN socxnrs AND'THE Lrxn.

Application filed December 2, 1921. Serial No. 519,381.

The present invention relates to adjusting screws such as are used in pull chain lamp sockets to tension the actuator return spring, and has for its object to provide an" improved screw which can be manufactured at a low cost and which will fit standard pull chain sockets as now manufactured.

For a consideration of what I believe to be novel and my invention, attention is directed to the accompanying description and the claims appended thereto.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in section of a pull chain switch utilizing an adjusting screw embodying my invention; Fig. 2'is an exploded perspective view of the'adjusting screw, return spring and actuator of the socket shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the adjusting screw; Fig. 4 shows the .orin a blank takes the adjusting screw.

prior to being shaped to form the head ofthe adjusting screw; and'Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the two parts of Referringoto the drawing, indicates a pull chain socket which as to its main features may have any suitable structure. 11..-

indicates the actuator which is given about a quarter turn by pulling on chain 12 to successively close and open the switch, the actuator being returned to its original position by retrieving on return spring 12. Re turn spring 12 is a coiled spring and has dhe endconnected to actuator 11 and the other end to spring tensioning member 13. The

" spring tensioning member has a rectangular head which fits in arecess 14 in the top of the switch mounting block 15, and, in adjusting the spring such member is pushed downward with a screw driver until the head is below the recess after which'it is turned to give the desired tension to' spring 12 and then permitted to come back to its original position with the head in the recess. This adjustment is well known in connection with pull chain sockets. My invention relates particularly totlre structure of the spring tensioning member 13. 7 In the embodiment shown in the drawing, it comprises two parts, a head A and a body portlon B, separately formed, and fastened together. Head A 1s formed of thin sheet material from a blankas shown in Fig. 4, and comprises a top wall.16 and side walls 17. Top wall 16 is pressed outwardly to provide rounded portion 18 in which is a slot 19 adapted to receive the end of a screw driver. The sheet metal being thin, this rounded portion 18 is desirable in order to provide a slot sufliciently deep to give good engagement for a screw driver. Three of the slde'walls 17 are provided with inwardly projecting lugs or tongues 20 and the fourth is provided with a downwardly. projecting hook 21 adapted to receive one end of spring 12. The manner in which a completed head is formed from ablank-as shown in Fig. 1 is obvious from an inspection of Fig. 4 in connection with Figs. 3 and 5. Body portion B is in the form of an eyelet comprising a tubular shank 22 having a flange 23 at one end which is located within the side' walls of head A and held by lugs or tongues 20, the latter lying under the flange as best shown in Fig. 3 The tubular shank is thus firmly fastened to the head. The body portion .or eyelet B can be formed from thin material similar to that from which head A is formed.

When assembled in a socket, the hook at the upper end of spring 12, Fig. 2, engages hook 21 and the hook at the lower end of spring 12 engages a projection 24 on actua tor 11, and it will be clear that turning member 13 in a clockwise direction as viewed .from the upper end tensions the spring and turning it in the opposite direction relieves the tension on the spring. When being pushed down to bring head A out of recess i 14 preparatory to turning member 13, the

tubular body portion slides down on a post 25 which serves as a guide and support for the screw. c l

My improved adjusting member lends itself to being manufactured by automatic machinery from the minimum amount of "stock and with very little waste material.

As a result it can be made at a very low cost. At the same time it has ample strength-and is thoroughly satisfactory for the purpose intended. Furthermore, due to the provision of hook 21, a tension spring 12 as shown particularly in Fig. 2 comprising a coil havmg=s1milar hooks at its two ends can be, uti- 'lized in the socket. The advantage of this p is that a spr' as shown including the hooks at the en matic spring coiling machine, which means that the springs can be produced at the lowcan be made on an auto-' est possible cost; In addition to this, the utilization of this type of spring expedites the assembling operations.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the principle of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I polygonal head formed from sheet material,

a separately-formed eyelet, and means formed integral with and comprising a part of the head which means engages the eyelet to fasten the eyelet to the head.

2. An adjusting member comprising a polygonal head formed from sheet material, a separately-formed eyelet having a flange, and means formed integral with the head and forming a part of the head which means engages said flange to fasten the head and eyelet together.

.3. An adjusting member comprising ..a head having top and side walls, a tubular eyelet having a flange located within the confines of saidside walls, and inwardly projecting lugs and a hook carried by the side walls, said lugs serving to fasten the eyelet to the head.

4. An adjusting member comprising a head having top and side walls, a tubular eyelet having a flange located within the confines of said side walls, and inwardly spring, and a slot to receive the end of an adjusting tool.

6. An adjusting member for use with a pull chain socket having an actuator, and a tensioning spring with a hook at each end, said adjusting member being formed from a sheet metal head and a flanged 'eyelet, said head having fastening means for the eyelet and a hook with which the hook at one end of the tensioning spring is adapted to engage.

7. An adjusting member for a pull chain socket or the like, said adjusting member comprising a polygonal head member formed from sheet material, an eyelet membar, and fingers formed integral with one of said members and engaging the other member to fasten them together.

8. An adjusting member for a pull chain socket or the like, said adjusting member comprising a polygonal head member formed from sheet material, an eyelet member having a flange, fingers formed integral with the head which engages said flange to fasten the head and eyelet together, and means providing a book which projects from said head member.

Inwitness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 29th day of November. 1921.

I FRANK C. DE REAMER. 

